By hitting multiple hallmarks of cancer simultaneously — proliferation, metabolism, invasion, and survival — ivermectin appears to function as a multi-targeted anti-tumor agent.
A groundbreaking preclinical study published in ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering has revealed that nano-formulated ivermectin delivered intranasally reduced glioblastoma tumor size by 70% — at a dose lower than the approved human antiparasitic dose — all without a trace of toxicity in the brain, blood, or lungs.
Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest and most treatment-resistant cancers on Earth, with median survival under 15 months. The blood–brain barrier blocks most drugs from reaching the tumor.
Researchers from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) engineered ivermectin nanocapsules (IVM-NC) using biodegradable, biocompatible polymers commonly employed in dissolvable sutures and medical implants, and administered them intranasally to rats bearing brain tumors.
